In the event you have been to sit down down for dinner with the retired NFL participant, Floyd Raglin, you’ll be drawn to his charisma and tales of a soccer profession that reached the dizzying heights of taking part in for the Miami Dolphins. Nonetheless, to cease there would solely be scratching the floor of the life and instances of a real entrepreneur. Raglin, or “Rag” as his mates know him, makes use of his ardour for supercars to convey pleasure to each his fellow athletes and the broader group. Keen to search out out extra, M&F sat down with the person himself to learn the way Rag transitioned from the soccer area to putting offers for family names like Dennis Rodman, and why supercars may be the proper machines for enhancing psychological and bodily well being.
Whereas the truth that Floyd Raglin performed two video games within the NFL strike 12 months of 1987 as a substitute for the Miami Dolphins would make for an incredible film, it’s what he did after he wound up that storied professional soccer profession that retains us enthralled. Within the late ‘80s, the star was engaged on the football-themed HBO sitcom, “1st & Ten” whereas negotiating with the Dolphins to remain on, however opted to not pursue a contract when Rag discovered that he might earn good cash in tv, with out placing his physique by means of the ringer. “At the moment in my profession, that appeared like a greater path,” he says. “1ST & Ten” had skilled soccer gamers on the present really—Lawrence Taylor, OJ Simpson, Jerry Rice. I imply, lots of guys have been on the present and so forth the lunch breaks that they had trainers come on the market and practice us, so we might practice on the market whereas we have been filming. We all the time stored up with our coaching.”
After calling it a day with the NFL, Rag’s vitality, arduous work, and self-discipline was not put to make use of on the sector, however he was quickly considered a group participant on the present, and was entrusted with the casting on “1st & Ten.” Rag’s potential to run with any alternative that got here his approach didn’t finish there, nonetheless. “I prefer to develop, and consider,” says Rag. “And, I’m by no means to sensible to hearken to any individual.”
Floyd Raglin is ready to construct constructive connections by means of supercars
Now in his 60s, this man from Alton, IL, continues to be firing on all cylinders each mentally and bodily. “On the weekend, I nonetheless prefer to go on the market and put my cleats on and run,” he says, now residing within the sunnier climates of Florida. The previous participant works out day-after-day, and likes to get his sweat on my finishing a full physique resistance band exercise whereas taking a sauna on the similar time. His potential to transition from skilled athlete to skilled enterprise man, and keep secure nicely into his retirement from soccer is among the causes that he was named vp of The Nationwide Soccer League Gamers Affiliation, a union that permits gamers to face collectively to guard their well being, rights, and households. Floyd Raglin has discovered that supercars get the eye of athletes younger and previous. On one hand, he reveals the up-and-coming gamers would might be theirs in the event that they preserve working arduous, and then again, he is ready to reunite footballing legends who can get collectively, chat, and spend high quality time with some epic engines.
Taking care of the pursuits of these round him has all the time been of mutual profit to Rag. From organising look offers for longtime mates and purchasers like Dennis Rodman, to serving to out fledgling native automotive dealerships, plainly if you want one thing doing nicely; Rag’s your man. After spending a while with the advertising supremo, you get the sensation that he loves the excitement of creating connections greater than the cash that he generates, and that is illustrated by the relationships that he has solid between man and machine in terms of his love of supercars. The concept to fulfill the wants of automotive lovers and create an area to exhibit and recognize particular cars first happened as a solution to promote the providers of a brand new Lamborghini showroom in Palm Seashore. The idea labored wonders, and has grown to the purpose that Floyd Raglin now hosts month-to-month automotive meets, along with an enormous annual extravaganza. “Supercars Saturdays Florida” revs into gear month-to-month on the Seminole Arduous Rock Resort and On line casino in Hollywood, FL, whereas the annual “Exotics at Dania Pointe” present (2023) takes place on November 12 at Dania Pointe Purchasing Middle in Dania Seashore, Florida.
Certain, these lovely machines are sometimes dismissed as shallow and materialistic, however there’s a facet to our relationship with status vehicles that Rag has proven may be harnessed as a pressure for optimistic influence. “I’m all about health,” says Rag, who’s all the time in search of new methods to encourage a optimistic mindset within the youthful gamers that he meets by means of his work with the NFLPA. “I attempt to inform my guys which you could have good vehicles and massive homes, however should you don’t have your well being, none of meaning something.” To make his level, Rag got here up with one other winner of an thought with a purpose to encourage these youthful athletes to remain in form, take care of their vitamin, and get common blood work completed. “We drove up there with 30 supercars, drove as much as this health club, and went by means of the entire strategy of explaining what it takes to be an athlete,” defined the inspirational showman. Rag is ready to display by means of advantage of his personal successes that if athletes preserve their head on straight and don’t succumb to unfavorable influences, then prize vehicles like Bugatti’s, Ferrari’s Lamborghini’s and the like might be theirs for the taking. Fortuitously, it’s not simply blinged up athletes that get to benefit from the lovely cars which might be on his reveals. “After I was rising up, my uncle used to work for JMC,” says Rag. “I used to observe him construct vehicles out within the yard and he used to take me to the drag races each week and so from a little bit child, I’ve all the time been infatuated with vehicles.”
Appreciating the healthful enjoyable that may be had at his huge automotive reveals, Floyd Raglin says that he solely permits exhibitors to come back to his occasions if they’re keen to let children get the total expertise and climb contained in the automotive. “Folks all the time say, ‘when are you going to retire,’” says Rag. “Why would I retire once I’m having a lot enjoyable!?”
